Wetjen's historic 2025 season earns him the award, given to the best return man in the country, for the second consecutive year.
After a historic 2025 season, the only thing missing on Kaden Wetjen's trophy shelf was another Jet Award. Luckily, the senior didn't have to wait long, as he was named the award's recipient for the second consecutive season on Monday.
"Kaden is special. He’s a threat every time he touches the ball, and winning the Jet Award twice is truly historic. He’s more than deserving, and I’m proud to congratulate him as a two-time winner," Johnny Rodgers, the award's namesake, said in a release Monday.
Wetjen was expected to continue his red-hot end to 2024 into his final season of 2025, and it's safe to say he's done more than that. Prior to Wetjen's arrival in Iowa City, it was hard for some of the most loyal Hawkeye fans to picture another return man that resembled Tim Dwight to ever grace the Kinnick Stadium turf, but Wetjen has done that and some throughout his storied career.
The Williamsburg native is the only player in Hawkeye program history to record a rushing, receiving, punt, and kickoff return touchdown in a single season, accomplishing the feat before the regular season finale. Wetjen returned 21 punt returns for 563 yards and 16 kickoffs for 476 yards this season, and his four special teams touchdowns led the FBS.
Wetjen will be presented the award at The Jet Award Gala on April 2 in Omaha.